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Japan Data on Jobs, Spending
Bolster Case for Rate Increase

TOKYO -- Japan's jobless rate dropped to its lowest level in nine years during April, while consumer spending rose, bolstering expectations that the central bank will lift rates within a few months.

The unemployment rate declined to 3.8% in April, the first fall below 4% since February 1998, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said. April's reading was much better than private economists' average forecast of 4%, the...